Keeping on turning as the body starts to fail: share your tips

[rsser]

Here's mine:

1. I need glasses for reading but got an extra set with another half magnification from the chemist. Lookover type. Good lighting helps a lot too.

2. Standing and sanding, yuk: if I can I use a cheap gas lift stool on castors got from Officeworks or similar years ago.

3. Bowl hollowing: an Irons toolgate reduces the struggle with a Munro or Proforme type hollower or a homemade scraper tip setup. More HD help can come from an articulated or captive hollowing rig.

4. If you have old hand injuries, it may be worth locating a hand rehab specialist. They can provide soft and hard splints. I use both. Also Panadol Osteo ... have used the HD prescription drugs to counter inflammation but this works as well with little or no side-effects. But consult your GP first.

5. Regular exercise helps with concentration and stamina.

6. Beer ... after a turning session. A proven muscle relaxant. Also calms the mind after that last finishing cut trashes a lovely bit of timber :doh:

7. Take it slowly. Refresh the cutting edges of your tools often. You're no longer 28 y.o. though your mind may not have caught up with that fact :rolleyes:

HTH.

What works for other folk?

[gidgee 1]

Dammit Ern,your not that much older than me,:rolleyes:.Is this what I have to look forward to?

Cheers
gidgee 1

[Sturdee]

Proper floor coverings, cover the concrete with the rubber interlocking mats from Bunnings. In most areas of the workshop I've got a double layer of these mats and an Anti fatigue mat in front of the lathe as well. Stops all those pains and aches at the end of the day.

Effective dust collectors and air cleaners making the air a pleasure to breathe.

Finally proper insulation making it more comfortable.


Peter.

[rsser]

Yeah, good tips Peter. Thanks.

gidgee, the crap comes in at diff ages and it's good to read btwn your lines that you're still fit. My probs come from a life-long sit down job plus some high-risk recreations.

[letzzzgo]

I most definitely support tip #6 :D

[tea lady]

I do tai chi to help balance everything. Makes the legs and back stronger. Helps with the "lathe tango". Helps my oestio arthrisis in my neck, cos it fosters good posture. If I don't do it for a couple of weeks I really start to feel the aches and pains again, and returning to class is a little on the painful side. Which it will be this week cos I have been sick for 2 weeks with a flu type thing. But small pain during class means less pain from working! :cool: I feel like work now makes me stronger rather than wearing me out.:U

[Chris Parks]

Good lighting and most probably more than you think. My workshop ceiling is a forest of light and I don't think it is too bright.

Benches that are a bit higher than what everyone reckons they should be.

Clean up as you go and save the trip hazards. If you are retired then you have the time to work in clean surroundings.

Labels on drawers, saves wearing out what little memory I have left.

Alcohol is a depressant, not good if you are already feeling down.

[dr4g0nfly]

You've got 5 years on me but I recognise myself in serial 7 already!

[DavidG]

Lots of light - Yep. I have 18w fluros at approx 1.2 m spacing, with each pair separately switched and a spot on the lathe.

I have a special pair of glasses with the best focus point set to the range I normally work at. A little further than reading glasses. They are also large and double as low risk safety glasses.

Learn to use either hand. That way you can swap the stresses to the other side of your body when you are getting sore.

[Ozkaban]

I'm only 36, but god willing I'll get there :rolleyes:

My biggest tip comes from trying to lose a finger in the lathe.... Slow down, take it easy - no silly shortcuts. No job on the lathe is so important that it has to be rushed.

Oh yeah, and +1 to lots of light and clean fresh air :2tsup:

Cheers,
Dave

[coffenup]

I have to get one of those large magnafying glass thingy's with a light in it as my glasses are strong but I can't focus on any thing close up any more.
Miss that as I want to do some finer things on my turnings, pens & boxes bit cant see them at all so I don't even try anymore
I have extra lamps over my lathe & over my work bench my lathe lamp also swivels over to my drill press
regards Michael

[Paul39]

All of the above and:

A clock on the wall above the lathe so you see how much time has elapsed. Do something different for a while every 30 minutes or so.

Do intense work (roughing, hollowing) in small increments; 15 - 30 minutes, then do something else for a while.

Big fat tool handles so hands don't cramp. If bothered by vibration, wrap with 1/8 to 1/4 closed cell foam. Bicycle handlebar tape over the foam would be ideal, but I haven't found any lately in discount stores. I may have to resort to bike shops, where locally they think everything is gold plated.

If you do big bowls or sized spindles, have big heavy tools to absorb the shock. For hollowing big bowls; a 3/4 inch bowl gouge with a 24 to 36 inch long 1 inch iron pipe handle, filled with lead shot and wrapped with dense closed cell foam and bicycle tape.

Do some physical exercise to keep the whole body involved. I heat with wood, so I am getting, cutting, splitting, all year round. The nice bits are saved for bowls, the rest is burned. Just walking and looking through the neighborhood is good for you.

I'm 71. All you young guys crying about aches and pains, sheesh. If you are busy and not overdoing, you don't feel most of the aches and pains.

[hughie]

Big fat tool handles so hands don't cramp. If bothered by vibration, wrap with 1/8 to 1/4 closed cell foam. Bicycle handlebar tape over the foam would be ideal, but I haven't found any lately in discount stores. I may have to resort to bike shops, where locally they think everything is gold plated.



Yep that the way I make mine

Osteo etc, well I look at various natural remedies to manage the symtoms. I dont have much in that way. But I use liberal amounts of vitamins, orange and bush honey for the osteo. Generally keep active and like to keep the weight down and attempt at remain as flexible as I can, with out breaking a leg etc:2tsup:

Hollowing rigs are good to keep to forces down to a minimum. I have several types for various situations.

Used to do pilates, should get back into it, slacking off again :C



Labels on drawers, saves wearing out what little memory I have left.



:U yeah you get more organised as the you get older. Never could figure it out when I was a young fella, now its obvious :D




Learn to use either hand. That way you can swap the stresses to the other side of your body when you are getting sore.



Absolutely, I turn with both hands and make a habit of being as ambidextrous as possible. does wonders for flexability and it also works both sides of the brain.




Effective dust collectors and air cleaners making the air a pleasure to breathe.
Finally proper insulation making it more comfortable.





Yep in this shed I will have a far greater setup for dust and comfort. LOML wonders if I am planning to take up residence out there :U.

All in all most of my mods are to do with comfort and making every thing easy, laid backed as possible. Have no wish to sweat the little stuff, just go with the flow.

[Ozkaban]

Bicycle handlebar tape over the foam would be ideal, but I haven't found any lately in discount stores. I may have to resort to bike shops, where locally they think everything is gold plated.

Having recently gotten into cycling as (yet) another hobby, I whole heartedly agree with the gold plated statement. At times the local bike store is well worth paying for (getting fitted to the correct new bike:2tsup: ) and at other times a complete rort (basically any accessory :(( )

Try Cell Bikes (http://www.cellbikes.com.au) Cheap prices, excellent service and good delivery. I usually pay about $5 delivery, but I am local in Sydney. They have heaps of handle bar tape (http://www.cellbikes.com.au/Bike-Accessories/Road-Bike-Handlebar-Tape-for-Drop-Bars) from about $5 to $20-odd. Oh, watch their RRP. Not always 'real world RRP' :rolleyes:

I bought a rechargeable bike light from them (seriously bright one too) that connects to the handlebar via an o-ring. I managed to lose one (2 come in the pack), and I emailed to ask if I could buy another. An hour later I got an email saying 2 new o-rings were in the post, free of charge. :2tsup:

Cheers,
Dave

[WOODbTURNER]

I use an articulated deep hollowing system to save my back and have a big industrial pedestal fan blowing air from behind. This keeps me cool from the humid weather we have up here and blows the dust straight out of my shed.
Oh yeah, I tie my wood pile rack ladder to the rack after I fell down when it slipped. That concrete floor is hard so my legs, arm and head found out!

[Paul39]

Try Cell Bikes (http://www.cellbikes.com.au) Cheap prices, excellent service and good delivery. I usually pay about $5 delivery, but I am local in Sydney. They have heaps of handle bar tape (http://www.cellbikes.com.au/Bike-Accessories/Road-Bike-Handlebar-Tape-for-Drop-Bars) from about $5 to $20-odd. Oh, watch their RRP. Not always 'real world RRP' :rolleyes:
Dave

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately I'm 9422.3 Miles East of Sydney. I'll try locally first.

[Ozkaban]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately I'm 9422.3 Miles East of Sydney. I'll try locally first.

ahhh! that slight stretch of water that gets in the way sometimes. Didn't notice your location :doh: Anyway, plenty of decent, cheap online stores floating about the globe :D

Cheers,
Dave

[bellyup]

I sometimes wonder where I would be if I didn't have this foolishly expensive pastime to keep me sane - I wander into my man-cave, turn on the radio (2DRY- FM... gotta love the name!!) 3 hours later I emerge happy and seeking beer :)
Bought new graduated glasses to go from reading length to full arms (read "lathe") length, rubber matting on floor. next "health" puchases will be a swampy and enclosed face mask.
Seriously though - with chronic fatigue and the black dog snapping at the heels, I'm richly rewarded.
Bruce.

[rsser]

Same here Bruce.

Hard to beat an arvo in the shed.

...

What punishes me is truing a large bowl blank outside.

Want a cheap CNC device to do it for me. Controlling something like a 4" angle grinder with a chipping wheel.

[vk4]

RSSR it's called a band saw :D:D and i need a bigger 1:D:D

Seriously , I too am not as young as I was, I now like lots of light , clean floor , and creature comforts.
Though there are few in the shed at the moment , but I'm working on it.

[Paul39]

I sometimes wonder where I would be if I didn't have this foolishly expensive pastime to keep me sane
Bruce.

I am not a golfer. I have photographed many golf courses for developers. I just bought a $268 chuck. At some courses around here that would not buy a round of golf. Not to mention $500 putters on sale.

Then there is boating, auto racing, or just attending major sports events.

Turning is most reasonable.

[rsser]

Yes, with a modest investment you can do a lot and have fun while doing it.

vk4, yes indeed.

But even then just a slight change of centre, which can be hard to avoid, makes for a deal of work. I get the toolrest as close as poss., use a long handled bowl gouge and aim for a line where the bevel can be rubbed while the tip or near as deals with the remaining irregular surface.

[Sawdust Maker]

raising the lathe about 1 1/2" has helped the bad back - might try another inch and see if that's the sweet spot

[NeilS]

Max dust control, to keep my asthmatic lungs going for as long as possible
Adjustable lamp(s) over work (old Planet lamps are good), but about time I got tested for new glasses
Rubber floor mats, as much for the cold as cushioning but that is nice to have too
An online computer, so I can sit down and have a rest ( as I often need to do) while looking at the woodturning forum...:)

[Grommett]

All of the above. Prescription safety glasses set for the lathe working distance, and a massage once a month works magic for the back.

[DavidG]

After trying various back belts I have found a soft weight lifters belt to be very good. :2tsup:

[rsser]

Good tip Nick, particularly if you do a lot of hollowing.

[hughie]

Good tip Nick, particularly if you do a lot of hollowing


Absolutely! I have all mine high, around 1200mm or 48" and according to the elbow rule its way too high.

[rsser]

And then there are the std frustrations of ageing:

* declining hearing acuity (not usually a prob. in the shed; can be handy indoors)
* declining dexterity
* declining short-term memory

any or all of which can lead to frustration.

As most of us are recreational turners, thankfully we can give ourselves permission to walk away from a project that's going pear-shaped, find an easier tool or swear off ever using a particular timber species again.

Or just plain stop in a turning session when the blood pressure starts rising, have a cuppa or a beer and come back to it tomorrow.

[jefferson]

The one advantage most of us here have is time.

Time to do a little turning - or lots or none.

So what might take an experienced youngster an hour, we can take two or as long as we like. Retirement does have some benefits.

Things to make the journey easier?

Most have already been covered, but in summary:

- a swivel head lathe for lefties
- anti fatigue matts
- decent prescription glasses
- decent tools and accessories (no point fighting against the odds with crap gear)
- great lighting
- a sharpening system that works for you
- scheduled breaks and enough down time
- a dust solution if there is one
- good instruction/ mentors, so you continue to learn and make less mistakes
- shed visitors, so needed to keep the interest levels high
- plenty of tools!
- air conditioning for both winter and summer
- a decent workspace, large or small, so long as it works for you
- most important, good wood

Obviously there are many others but the above are the important ones for me.

[DavidG]

So what might take an experienced youngster an hour, we can take two or as long as we like.

Don't forget. Age and treachery can always overcome youth and skill. :;

[robo hippy]

A big second on Tea Lady's comments about Thai Chi. As I am moving out of production turning, and more into teaching, when trying to teach posture, and moving with the body and not the arms, the moves are identical.

Ever take a bowl outside in full sun light to look at it before you put some finish on it? Scary to see what you have missed. I figure part of it, as long as you have good glasses is that our eyes have evolved to see in sun light, and most lighting is not in that spectrum. There are 2 brands of lights that I know of over here that any one who does fine sewing like quilts and needle point, knows about. Blue Max lights and Ott lights. I would guess that the dental lights are in the same spectrum range for optimal vision.

robo hippy

[rsser]

LOL David. Would've agreed a decade ago but as my capacities decrease and my respect for the next gen increases, I'm happy not to compete.

Yep rh and TL, Tai Chi is good for turners. Yoga is just tooo static (and boring!). We must all be adrenalin freaks at one level to take a tool to a lump of wood spinning at high speed :rolleyes:

Yes a closer or a 2nd look at a bowl outside always pays dividends. I sleep on mine and then check again the line and the finish off the tool the next day. Pull the chuck with piece off the lathe and set them upright. Diff. view, new possibilities. Often can do better and where's the rush?

[RETIRED]

Position the tool rest where you are comfortable at the lathe.

I see so many that have the tool rest too high and have their elbow in their armpit.:D

[rsser]

And with bowl roughing, keep advancing the tool rest so there's min. overhang. The rest takes the pounding; the hands just guide. Increase the speed as you get closer to true. Fastest is bestest, other things equal.

Thump, thump, thump ... chick, chick, chick ... zzz, zzz, zzz ... zrrrrrrr :)

[NeilS]

thump, thump, thump ... Chick, chick, chick ... Zzz, zzz, zzz ... Zrrrrrrr :)

........... : -- )

[RETIRED]

Quite often though it is:
THUMP.
















THUMP















THUMP.

Because they don't speed it up.:wink:

[rsser]

Yeah.

In my book it's actually safer going faster with roughing out unless there's a concern with the soundness of the blank. And it's a lot less boring too!

[Paul39]

Yeah.

In my book it's actually safer going faster with roughing out unless there's a concern with the soundness of the blank. And it's a lot less boring too!

I have had a 20 inch diameter locust stump break off three #10 screws, tear out three others, and fling itself 20 feet into the bushes.

I'll stick to slow and boring on roughing out of balance blanks with interrupted cuts.

[rsser]

Whatever works for you and yes Paul, that's a distinct wakeup call about how you mount your blanks.

Staying young by practising quick reaction times to disasters is prob. not medically recommended.

Standing aside on start-up and roughing by coming in from the side are cheap insurance. Attentive listening and stopping to check whenever something doesn't feel right always pays dividends in my book.

[Optimark]

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Ern, with regards to using Chemist over the counter reading glasses, something to think about.

On our last trip to Germany and staying at my sister-in-laws place whilst having a round the table discussion after dinner, I heard something distressing, but interesting, from her husband, who is an Ophthalmologist.

He had had a patient in that day, who had unfortunately gone blind in one eye, due to using Chemist bought reading glasses.

It turned out that this is not that uncommon an experience in the ophthalmic profession. Apparently, what happens, is that you pick a dioptre that you are comfortable with and can see well at the chosen distance, this is fine for short stints of reading, but not good for prolonged use.

It works a bit like this. The patient in question had purchased the glasses and read newspapers and her books, using these glasses for about three years. With these glasses, one normally, or often, picks a pair that suit their dominant eye. This is fine, but the non-dominant eye is sort of along for the ride and doesn’t work too hard.

Over time, ones eyes shift in different ways with the dominant eye effectively taking over. Eventually the secondary eye doesn’t work very much at all and with the brain compensating, you don’t notice this discrepancy between either eye.

As time goes on, the low working eye, stops being used by the brain then it shuts down. I believe that there is no cure.

I questioned this with the three Ophthalmologists I am under, they did concur, but stressed that it wasn’t that normal, but it certainly happens.

Effectively, they agreed with the following paragraph, I’m paraphrasing here:-

If someone has a hobby where they use close focusing, sometimes even for an hour or two a day on a regular basis, using over the counter identical dioptre in each lens glasses, it could be the genesis of a minor and/or occasionally, a major eye condition developing.

Mick.

[rsser]

Thanks for the warning Mick.

I don't use mine for long and the dioptre diff. is not big between each eye but this will force a rethink.

[coffenup]

Another warning if you start getting chest pains call 000 straight away don't wait and say it will be ok
I am talking from experience was taking to hospital after waiting to long with pain. The pain passed & the specialist know it happened but the body is an great machine self repairing if only minor damage is done. Thank goodness mine was minor
But was I was told off by the AMBOS transferring me to a heart specialist hospital & also told off by wife & specialist . The Ambo's said Don't wait they would rather tell you your not having a heart attack that having to fight to save your life.
my quote of the year is
"I WOULD RATHER BE A LIVE FOOL THAN A DEAD HERO"
Regards Michael

[RETIRED]

Another warning if you start getting chest pains call 000 straight away don't wait and say it will be ok
I am talking from experience was taking to hospital after waiting to long with pain. The pain passed & the specialist know it happened but the body is an great machine self repairing if only minor damage is done. Thank goodness mine was minor
But was I was told off by the AMBOS transferring me to a heart specialist hospital & also told off by wife & specialist . The Ambo's said Don't wait they would rather tell you your not having a heart attack that having to fight to save your life.
my quote of the year is
"I WOULD RATHER BE A LIVE FOOL THAN A DEAD HERO"
Regards MichaelI agree. This is no time to "Phone a Friend".

So many do and die where they are instead of 000 first.

[rsser]

The pain can appear in your arm, your neck or chin and other odd places.

ATM in Vic the ambos appear to be more knowledgeable about this than some docs an insider tells me.

Better a red face than a waxy yellow one.

..

If you're turning and not breathing freely, take a lesson.

[Sawdust Maker]

it has probably been mentioned
but have a good dusty etc early on in the career or hobby, lungs are important

[rsser]

Yeah.

Also clean up in the shed regularly. I'm finding that just moving around on the carpet square in front of the workbench stirs up enough dust to set the sneezing off. It's clear that my schnozz is now reacting to any kind of wood dust.

[hughie]

[It's clear that my schnozz is now reacting to any kind of wood dust


Bummer Ern, I have fitted a exhaust fan to one end of the shed [.. well Its in progress]
as a means of a general ventilation to lower the over all wood dust

[Chris Parks]

it has probably been mentioned
but have a good dusty etc early on in the career or hobby, lungs are important

I obviously agree with that, in fact it is the single most important aspect of a woodworkers health. Since becoming involved in DE I have been told numerous stories of woodworkers being forced to leave the hobby or in a lot of cases their only means of livelihood which is even worse. The dust must be removed from the workplace not recirculated within it but unfortunately this is not a universal standard that we seek to achieve. It is a bit like where smoking was thirty years ago, we have yet to get the message.

I think that if I were building a shed today and knowing what we now know I would buy the DE system before anything else as it is the single most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and enjoy our hobby long term. Mind you I would design the shed and build something that was less capable of being a dust trap as that is all modern sheds are as they have nowhere near the ventilation they should or could.

What is strange is that I have sold quite a few cyclones because the wife or partner demanded that the woodworker do something as it is they who first notice the changes taking place or because the woodworker just chooses to ignore them. We would not smoke but most of us do ignore the very real effects of wood dust and yes it will have major effects on your life, that is a proven fact.

Before you buy your next expensive toy think about it and more importantly do something and you will enjoy your hobby more and be able to keep doing it otherwise that expensive toy won't be used for as long as it should be.

[rsser]

Yes.

Well I have a 2hp dusty with a Big Gulp close to the lathe on the other side, a reverse cycle A/C behind me with Filtrete filter and when I sand the air helps push the dust into the Big Gulp; there's a ceiling mounted air scrubber and for woods that I knew pinged the sinuses a filtered visor.

So despite all that just stirring up a bit of dust from the mat has over the years sensitised the sinuses; not badly thankfully ... just sneezing.

So it's necessary to vac the mat regularly as well.

[Sawdust Maker]

maybe change the mat for something which doesn't trap the dust

[rsser]

Yeah, good idea. Don't seem to get the same prob. with the closed cell foam mat in front of the lathe ..... but the prob has only become apparent since the causes of my normal hayfever have waned. That's what I'd been putting it down to.

I used to sweep and vac up everything at the end of each day but got slack. Have to return to doing that.

[Chris Parks]

Yes.

Well I have a 2hp dusty with a Big Gulp close to the lathe on the other side, a reverse cycle A/C behind me with Filtrete filter and when I sand the air helps push the dust into the Big Gulp; there's a ceiling mounted air scrubber and for woods that I knew pinged the sinuses a filtered visor.

So despite all that just stirring up a bit of dust from the mat has over the years sensitised the sinuses; not badly thankfully ... just sneezing.

So it's necessary to vac the mat regularly as well.

Does the DE sit outside the shed? I think that some operations are best done outside and that includes sanding. Unless you have a big DE operating through at least 150mm duct then you have not got a hope in hell of capturing all the dust you should be and for big panels you are never going to capture it. We need to get real and understand the shortcoming of what actually happens in a workshop and also understand that building workshops that are not dust traps is not all that hard to do but certainly a bit more expensive. Health costs money unfortunately and while this may sound trite it is not meant to be, those costs are either in prevention or in the worse case scenario after the event and we all make our own choices either through ignorance as has been the case until recent times or not wanting to put the effort and money in as is the case now. I also echo the thought to ditch the mat or at the least turn it over if you want the comfort of standing on it.

If you stay in this hobby and use power tools you will suffer health issues related to dust unless you do something about it and that something has to include removing the dust from the workplace as much as is practical or having a work place that is not a dust trap. If sheds were not dust traps then DE would be limited to gathering up the large bits as a primary job. Most of the equipment available is less than adequate but a lot of it can be persuaded to be more effective than what it already is with some planning. Scary? it should be.

[rsser]

Thanks for your concern but you're preaching to the converted.

As for the tech side, you'll note I'm talking about sanding on the lathe. I don't do big panels. The Big Gulp sucks up the visible dust stream. The invisible air borne particles are dealt with by the air scrubber and for some timbers the filtered visor is added. With the former, there's never been sneezing and there's usually no sinus reaction or dirty snot. When there is the visor is worn.

The DE is outside the workshop and has a pleated paper cartridge. There's a single 4" line to the Big Gulp. It has no difficulty with the visible dust stream but of course it's the invisible stuff that does the real damage.

[Chris Parks]

Thanks for your concern but you're preaching to the converted.

Ernie, except for the sanding/mat issue it was not specifically aimed at you but any sneezing/coughing that has generally developed or gotten worse is a concern but again I don't know if that is relevant to you and point it out as a general warning.

We all know these things but most ignore them. People will read this and dismiss it, we are so dismissive of commonly known dangers like dust and do nothing about it, it is only human to think we are bullet proof and I am as guilty as anyone for different reasons. I watched my father cry for hours when the doctor told him he could no longer work in his shed for health reasons though they were not dust related and he was absolutely inconsolable when we cleared his shed out. If my rantings prevent one person going through that then I have achieved something in this world.